In the city the world renowned composer once called home, officials have proposed using classical music to drive vagrants and drug dealers from Library Place, a public space just outside the library that includes benches, stone walks and a fountain.

The idea isn't a new one. For decades police departments, transit systems and even some retail stores have used classical music in public places as a way to deter unwanted behavior.

While some professionals and homeless advocates scoff at the idea, a library director in Norwich says it works.

Farwell cautioned that the idea is not a panacea, but he said loitering in the Otis Library's large outdoor entryway was cut significantly when classical music was pumped into the space beginning this spring.

"It's been an effective deterrent," he said.

Mayor Mark Boughton hopes to have similar results in Danbury. He said he plans to speak with the library board of directors about the proposal. The expense for playing music would be minimal, Boughton said.

"We want to provide an outdoor setting that's more conducive to families and children who are visiting the library," he said. "We want to set a peaceful tone that encourages people to sit down and read a book but discourages people from spreading out and sleeping. It's been an ongoing challenge for us."

Pat Zachman, director of the Women's Center of Greater Danbury, said she's seen a variety of unruly behavior in the park over the past two decades, including verbal confrontations, vomiting, people sleeping on benches and the occasional suspected drug deal.

"Our offices overlook Library Place," Zachman said. "Like any city, we have a certain ilk of people who participate in some unwanted behaviors and unfortunately Danbury isn't exempt from that. But in the 20 years I've been in this building I've never had a day I haven't felt safe."

Dr. Ralph Welsh, a Danbury psychologist who has worked with vagrant populations since the 1960s, said the idea seems "illogical."

"It's a real stretch to say vagrants don't like classical music," Welsh said. "Some of the vagrants I've worked with are lovers of classical music."

Whether it's Christmas bells, loud music or other clatter, "it won't bother anyone who is heavily intoxicated," he said.

"To me, the idea doesn't make a lot of sense," Welsh said. "But it does sound like something a municipality would come up with."

Michael Laboudy, a city native who has been homeless since the home he shared with his parents was destroyed by a fire last summer, said the music will have little effect.

"They can play anything they want as loud as they want," he said. "But if you've been walking all day and your legs are tired, you're going to sit down.

"I can certainly understand it doesn't look attractive," Laboudy continued, especially to families with small children, if there is a guy with 50 bags hanging out in front of the library. But there isn't anywhere else for people to go."

Boughton said this week that he wants to hire a security guard to patrol the exterior of the library, and to create a day center that would be available for the city's homeless population in the daytime hours when the shelters are closed.

"It would be a place people can go during the day where we can provide them with help and assistance," Boughton said. "The goal isn't to just move people along, it's to help them get back on their feet."

Lisa Sementilli, the deputy director of the Connecticut Coalition to End Homelessness, said "I've never seen any literature that indicates classical music can end or prevent homelessness.